Pitcher Screening Assembly

ABSTRACT

A pitcher screening assembly for protecting a pitcher includes a plurality of frames. Each frame is hingedly coupled to adjacently positioned frames. Each of a plurality of nets is coupled to and extends inwardly from a respective frame. The frames are selectively positionable in an extended configuration, in which the nets are configured to protect a pitcher from hit balls, and a folded configuration, wherein the frames are stowable in a trunk of a vehicle. A plate is coupled to a bottom and extends perpendicularly from a front of a respective frame. A pair of wheels are coupled to a back of the respective frame. The wheels and the plate are configured to stabilize the plurality of frames perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal surface. The respective frame, the wheels, and the plate define a dolly that is configured to transport an item that is positioned on the plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to screening assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new screening assembly for protecting a pitcher.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame is hingedly coupled to adjacently positioned frames. Each of a plurality of nets is coupled to and extends inwardly from a respective frame. The frames are selectively positionable in an extended configuration, in which the nets are configured to protect a pitcher from hit balls, and a folded configuration, wherein the frames are stowable in a trunk of a vehicle. A plate is coupled to a bottom and extends perpendicularly from a front of a respective frame. A pair of wheels are coupled to a back of the respective frame. The wheels and the plate are configured to stabilize the plurality of frames perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal surface. The respective frame, the wheels, and the plate define a dolly that is configured to transport an item that is positioned on the plate.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pitcher screening assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new screening assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the pitcher screening assembly 10 generally comprises a plurality of frames 12. Each frame 12 is hingedly coupled to adjacently positioned frames 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The frames 12 are tubular. The frames 12 comprise metal. Each frame 12 is substantially rectangularly shaped. Each frame 12 has corners 14 that are arcuate. The frames 12 may be covered with a protective material, such as rubberized foam or the like.

The plurality of frames 12 comprises a center frame 16, a top frame 18, and a side frame 20. The top frame 18 is hingedly coupled to and extends from an upper member 22 of the center frame 16 so that the top frame 18 and the center frame 16 are substantially coplanar. The top frame 18 is positioned to be selectively pivoted to position the top frame 18 adjacent to a rear face 24 of the center frame 16, as shown in FIG. 4. The side frame 20 is hingedly coupled to and extends from a respective opposing side member 26 of the center frame 16 so that the side frame 20 and the center frame 16 are substantially coplanar. The center frame 16 is positioned to be selectively pivoted to position the center frame 16 adjacent to a front face 28 of the side frame 20, as shown in FIG. 5.

A plurality of first hinges 30 is coupled to and extends between the center frame 16 and the top frame 18. The plurality of first hinges 30 comprises two first hinges 30, as shown in FIG. 4. The first hinges 30 are lemniscately shaped. A lower member 32 of the top frame 18 is positioned in and rotatable within an upper opening 34 of each first hinge 30. The upper member 22 of the center frame 16 is positioned in and rotatable within a lower opening 36 of each first hinge 30.

A plurality of second hinges 38 is coupled to and extends between the center frame 16 and the side frame 20. The plurality of second hinges 38 comprises three second hinges 38. The second hinges 38 are lemniscately shaped, as shown in FIG. 8. The respective opposing side member 26 of the center frame 16 is positioned in and rotatable within a first opening 40 of each second hinge 38. An associated opposing edge member 42 of the side frame 20 is positioned in and rotatable within a second opening 44 of each second hinge 38.

Each of a pair of latch rods 46 is pivotally coupled to and extends from a respective opposing side member 26 of the center frame 16, as shown in FIG. 1. Each of a pair of latch hooks 48 is coupled to a respective opposing side tube 50 of the top frame 18. Each latch hook 48 is positioned to selectively couple to an associated latch rod 46 to fixedly position the top frame 18 substantially coplanarly with the center frame 16.

Each of a plurality of nets 52 is coupled to and extends inwardly from a respective frame 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The plurality of frames 12 is selectively positionable in an extended configuration wherein the nets 52 are configured to protect a pitcher from hit balls. The plurality of frames 12 is also selectively positionable in a folded configuration wherein the frames 12 are configured to be stow in a trunk of a vehicle.

A plate 54 is coupled to a bottom 56 of a respective frame 12 and extends perpendicularly from a front 58 of the respective frame 12, as shown in FIG. 3. The plate 54 extends from the side frame 20. Each of a pair of wheels 60 is coupled to a back 62 of the respective frame 12. The wheels 60 are opposingly positioned to the plate 54 so that the wheels 60 and the plate 54 are configured to stabilize the plurality of frames 12 perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal surface. The respective frame 12, the wheels 60, and the plate 54 define a dolly 64, as shown in FIG. 7. The dolly 64 is configured to transport an item that is positioned on the plate 54. The center frame 16 and the top frame 18 are positioned over the plate 54 when the plurality of frames 12 is positioned in the folded configuration.

Each of a pair of bars 66 is coupled to and extends from a respective opposing edge member 42 of the side frame 20. The pair of bars 66 is opposingly positioned to the plate 54. An axle 68 is rotationally coupled to and extends between the bars 66, as shown in FIG. 2. Each wheel 60 is coupled to the axle 68 so that the wheel 60 is positioned proximate to an associated opposing edge member 42 of the side frame 20.

A roller 70 is axially coupled to the center frame 16. The roller 70 is positioned distal from the side frame 20 when the plurality of frames 12 is in the extended configuration, as shown in FIG. 4. The roller 70 is configured to facilitate locomotion of the plurality of frames 12 along the substantially horizontal surface.

A rod 72 is pivotally coupled to the center frame 16 proximate to the roller 70, as shown in FIG. 3. The rod 72 is positioned to be selectively pivoted relative to the center frame 16 so that an endpoint 74 of the rod 72 contacts the substantially horizontal surface to stabilize the plurality of frames 12 on the substantially horizontal surface.

A netting 76 is coupled to and extends between a respective opposing side tube 50 of the top frame 18 and a top member 78 the side frame 20, as shown in FIG. 2. The netting 76 is configured to protect the pitcher from the hit balls.

The netting 76 is triangularly shaped. A first edge 80 of the netting 76 is coupled to the respective opposing side tube 50 of the top frame 18. A second edge 84 of the netting 76 is coupled to the top member 78 of the side frame 20. Having the first edge 80 and the second edge 84 of the netting coupled to the top frame 18 and the side frame 20, respectively, prevents hit balls from passing between the netting 76 and the frames 12. A third edge 82 of the netting 76 comprises elastic so that the third edge 82 is configured to stretch upon contact with an arm of the pitcher. The netting 76 prevents the arm of the pitcher from contacting the frames 12.

In use, the dolly 64 comprising the plurality of frames 12 in the folded configuration is transported to a desired location. The first hinges 30 and the second hinges 38 allow the plurality of frames 12 to be positioned in the extended configuration. The rod 72 is pivoted relative to the center frame 16 so that the endpoint 74 of the rod 72 contacts the substantially horizontal surface. The wheels 60, the plate 54, the roller 70, and the rod 72 support the plurality of frames 12 perpendicularly to the substantially horizontal surface. The pitcher pitches the ball over the side frame 20. The nets 52 and the netting 76 protect the pitcher from hit balls.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A pitcher screening assembly comprising: a plurality frames, each said frame being hingedly coupled to adjacently positioned said frames, said plurality of frames including a top frame, a center frame, and a side frame; a plurality of nets, each said net being coupled to and extending inwardly from a respective said frame wherein said plurality of frames is selectively positionable in an extended configuration such that said plurality of nets is configured for protecting a pitcher from hit balls and a folded configuration wherein said plurality of frames is configured for stowing in a trunk of a vehicle; a plate coupled to a bottom of said side frame and extending perpendicularly from a front of said said side frame; a pair of wheels coupled to a back of said side frame such that said wheels are opposingly positioned to said plate wherein said wheels and said plate are configured for stabilizing said plurality of frames perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal surface, wherein said side frame, said wheels, and said plate define a dolly configured transporting an item positioned on said plate; and said plurality of frames comprising said top frame being hingedly coupled to and extending from an upper member of said center frame such that said top frame and said center frame are substantially coplanar, wherein said top frame is positioned for selectively pivoting for positioning said top frame adjacent to a rear face of said center frame, and said side frame being hingedly coupled to and extending from a respective opposing side member of said center frame such that said side frame and said center frame are substantially coplanar, said plate extending from said side frame, wherein said center frame is positioned for selectively pivoting for positioning said center frame adjacent to a front face of said side frame such that said center frame and said top frame are positioned over said plate.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, further including said frames being tubular.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, further including said frames comprising metal.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, further including each said frame being substantially rectangularly shaped.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, further including each said frame having corners, said corners being arcuate.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of first hinges coupled to and extending between said center frame and said top frame; and a plurality of second hinges coupled to and extending between said center frame and said side frame.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising: said plurality of first hinges comprising two said first hinges; and said plurality of second hinges comprising three said second hinges.
 9. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising: said first hinges being lemniscately shaped wherein a lower member of said top frame is positioned in and rotatable within an upper opening of each said first hinge and said upper member of said center frame is positioned in and rotatable within a lower opening of each said first hinge; and said second hinges being lemniscately shaped wherein said respective said opposing side member of said center frame is positioned in and rotatable within a first opening of each said second hinge and an associated opposing edge member of said side frame is positioned in and rotatable within a second opening of each said second hinge.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a pair of latch rods, each said latch rod being pivotally coupled to and extending from a respective said opposing side member of said center frame; and a pair of latch hooks, each said latch hook being coupled to a respective opposing side tube of said top frame wherein each said latch hook is positioned for selectively coupling to an associated said latch rod for fixedly positioning said top frame substantially coplanarly with said center frame.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a pair of bars, each said bar being coupled to and extending from a respective opposing edge member of said side frame such that said pair of bars is opposingly positioned to said plate; and an axle rotationally coupled to and extending between said bars, each said wheel being coupled to said axle such that said wheel is positioned proximate to an associated said opposing edge member of said side frame.
 12. The assembly of claim 1, further including a roller axially coupled to said center frame wherein said roller is positioned distal from said side frame when said plurality of frames is in the extended configuration such that said roller is configured for facilitating locomotion of said plurality of frames along the substantially horizontal surface.
 13. The assembly of claim 12, further including a rod pivotally coupled to said center frame proximate to said roller wherein said rod is positioned for selectively pivoting relative to said center frame such that an endpoint of said rod contacts the substantially horizontal surface for stabilizing said plurality of frames on the substantially horizontal surface.
 14. The assembly of claim 1, further including a netting coupled to and extending between a respective opposing side tube of said top frame and a top member said side frame wherein said netting is configured for protecting the pitcher from the hit balls.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, further including said netting having a first edge coupled to said respective said opposing side tube of said top frame, said netting having a second edge coupled to said top member of said side frame, said netting having a third edge, said third edge comprising elastic wherein said third edge is configured for stretching upon contacting an arm of the pitcher.
 16. A pitcher screening assembly comprising: a plurality frames, each said frame being hingedly coupled to adjacently positioned said frames, said frames being tubular, said frames comprising metal, each said frame being substantially rectangularly shaped, each said frame having corners, said corners being arcuate, said plurality of frames comprising: a center frame, a top frame hingedly coupled to and extending from an upper member of said center frame such that said top frame and said center frame are substantially coplanar, wherein said top frame is positioned for selectively pivoting for positioning said top frame adjacent to a rear face of said center frame, and a side frame hingedly coupled to and extending from a respective opposing side member of said center frame such that said side frame and said center frame are substantially coplanar, wherein said center frame is positioned for selectively pivoting for positioning said center frame adjacent to a front face of said side frame such that said center frame and said top frame are positioned over said plate; a plurality of first hinges coupled to and extending between said center frame and said top frame, said plurality of first hinges comprising two said first hinges, said first hinges being lemniscately shaped wherein a lower member of said top frame is positioned in and rotatable within an upper opening of each said first hinge and said upper member of said center frame is positioned in and rotatable within a lower opening of each said first hinge; a plurality of second hinges coupled to and extending between said center frame and said side frame, said plurality of second hinges comprising three said second hinges, said second hinges being lemniscately shaped wherein said respective said opposing side member of said center frame is positioned in and rotatable within a first opening of each said second hinge and an associated opposing edge member of said side frame is positioned in and rotatable within a second opening of each said second hinge; a pair of latch rods, each said latch rod being pivotally coupled to and extending from a respective said opposing side member of said center frame; a pair of latch hooks, each said latch hook being coupled to a respective opposing side tube of said top frame wherein each said latch hook is positioned for selectively coupling to an associated said latch rod for fixedly positioning said top frame substantially coplanarly with said center frame; a plurality of nets, each said net being coupled to and extending inwardly from a respective said frame wherein said plurality of frames is selectively positionable in an extended configuration such that said plurality of nets is configured for protecting a pitcher from hit balls and a folded configuration wherein said plurality of frames is configured for stowing in a trunk of a vehicle; a plate coupled to a bottom of a respective said frame and extending perpendicularly from a front of said respective said frame, said plate extending from said side frame; a pair of wheels coupled to a back of said side frame such that said wheels are opposingly positioned to said plate wherein said wheels and said plate are configured for stabilizing said plurality of frames perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal surface, wherein said side frame, said wheels, and said plate define a dolly configured transporting an item positioned on said plate; a pair of bars, each said bar being coupled to and extending from a respective said opposing edge member of said side frame such that said pair of bars is opposingly positioned to said plate; an axle rotationally coupled to and extending between said bars, each said wheel being coupled to said axle such that said wheel is positioned proximate to an associated said opposing edge member of said side frame; a roller axially coupled to said center frame wherein said roller is positioned distal from said side frame when said plurality of frames is in the extended configuration such that said roller is configured for facilitating locomotion of said plurality of frames along the substantially horizontal surface; a rod pivotally coupled to said center frame proximate to said roller wherein said rod is positioned for selectively pivoting relative to said center frame such that an endpoint of said rod contacts the substantially horizontal surface for stabilizing said plurality of frames on the substantially horizontal surface; and a netting coupled to and extending between a respective opposing side tube of said top frame and a top member said side frame wherein said netting is configured for protecting the pitcher from the hit balls, said netting being triangularly shaped, said netting having a first edge coupled to said respective said opposing side tube of said top frame, said netting having a second edge coupled to said top member of said side frame, said netting having a third edge, said third edge comprising elastic wherein said third edge is configured for stretching upon contacting an arm of the pitcher. 